Firearm disabling device

ABSTRACT

A method of preventing access to the firing mechanism of a handgun, or other similar firearm, is provided in which a keyed rotationally activated locking cylinder is employed to secure the invention to the trigger guard of the handgun. Additionally, the invention also employs a device which will hold the slide of the handgun in a rearward manner while the invention is in place. This allows for the access to the handgun&#39;s chamber, which enables a user to insert and remove a magazine from the weapon while the invention is in place, and which makes it impossible for the accidental discharge of a bullet from the handgun to be caused by the firing pin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] While handguns and other firearms can serve the desirablefunction of defending a user against others, firearms can also be anundesirable source of harm when not properly handled or when custody ofthe gun is lost to an attacker. For the firearm to operate, it must bothbe loaded with rounds of ammunition and the trigger actuated.

[0002] In the past, the use of locking mechanisms to prevent access tothe weapon's trigger and thereby avoiding the accidental or unwanteddischarge of a firearm has been very common. The prior art containsexamples of these mechanisms which are typified by U.S. Pat. No.5,513,460, issued to Van Niekerk et. al. Van Niekerk et. al. shows apositioning feature that allows the weapon to be fired without theremoval of the invention by the activation of a safety switch containedon the invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,723, issued to Ruiz shows anotherdevice which prevents access to the trigger of the firearm by enclosingboth the trigger guard and a portion of the firearm's body and barrel.This design not only prevents access to the trigger, but also locksaccess to the weapon's firing chamber which prevents it from beingloaded or unloaded while the invention is in place.

[0003] The limitations of these prior art examples are that the VanNiekerk et al. patent has the ability to accidentally discharge thefirearm while the invention is in place on a handgun undermining thepurpose of such devices. Additionally, the Ruiz patent purposefullymakes it impossible to load or unload the firearm while the device is inplace, even though the complete isolation of the trigger with the devicein place makes this the safest time possible for the loading andunloading of a firearm.

[0004] Accordingly, a need exists for a device and method for preventingaccess to a firearm's trigger and otherwise disabling the firearm thatcannot be altered or removed without the use of a key or other devicefor restricting access to authorized users. Additionally, such a deviceor method would allow access to the weapon's firing chamber with theinvention in place, allowing a magazine to be installed or removedwithout the possibility of accidentally discharging the firearm byinadvertent contact with the trigger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention provides a locking trigger disabling device whichcontains a lock housing portion of the present invention that is used tolock and disable the trigger and firing mechanism of a handgun or othersimilar firearm. The lock housing is made up of two vertically orientedparallel plates that are connected at their lowest points to form aU-shaped apparatus that is open at its top and rear ends. Thisconfiguration creates an upwardly open gap between the plates whichcorresponds in its inside dimension to the outside dimension of thetrigger guard of a typical handgun. Additionally, the upper and rearsurfaces of each of the parallel plates is formed in a manner so thatthe invention fits tightly against the body of the handgun when in placeto lock the trigger. This shaping of the vertical plates ensures thatthe present invention will not move in relation to the trigger guardwhen installed on a handgun, which in turn prevents any accidentalcontact with the trigger of the handgun.

[0006] The locking function of the present invention is facilitated bythe use of a locking cylinder that (when installed on a handgun) isinserted through an opening located in the left and vertical plate. Oncethe locking cylinder passes through the left vertical plate, it passesbetween the inner front surface of the trigger guard and the triggeritself and then enters the hole in the right vertical plate. The hole inthe right vertical plate differs in that it is preferably capped by alocking pin carrier that forms a closed cylindrical chamber that extendsoutwardly from the outside surface of the right vertical plate. Theprimary importance of this feature is that it provides a point ofattachment for a locking pin used with the locking cylinder of thepresent invention.

[0007] The locking cylinder component of the present invention is of atype that is commonly available in the marketplace today. Specifically,it is a locking cylinder having a stationary outer cylinder and arotationally movable inner cylinder that controls the locking functionof the cylinder and which can be manipulated by the insertion of a keyin its exposed outer surface. The most rearward end of the innercylinder is equipped with a coupling fixture which engages the lock pinlocated in the locking pin carrier and serves to draw the entirecylinder into the trigger lock body as the inner cylinder is rotated.Upon full rotation, the lock cylinder is drawn completely into thetrigger lock body, whereby the key can be removed which makes itimpossible to remove the lock cylinder without the reinsertion of thekey into the lock cylinder.

[0008] The present invention also includes a slide retainer, which isthe component of the present invention which is employed to hold theslide of the handgun in an open position when the device of thisinvention is in place. The slide retainer is a forward orientedextension of the trigger lock body that at the correct point diverges ata ninety degree angle upward. The upward face of the slide retainercontains an opening which corresponds in size and location to thehandgun's barrel and lower slide frame. When installing the presentinvention, the slide of the handgun is held in a rearward manner and theopening(s) of the slide retainer is then slid over the exposed portionof the firearm (such as part of the barrel) until it contacts theweapon's slide. On many handguns a lower frame member extendshorizontally below the barrel and can extend through the opening in theslide retainer and also hold the slide in a rearward position. Once thisis complete, the trigger lock body is locked to the trigger guard aspreviously described, which in turn causes the slide retainer to holdthe slide in a rearward orientation.

[0009] This slide retainer feature of the present invention holds theslide in a position which allows a user to access the chamber of thehandgun, allowing the magazine of the firearm to be installed or removedin this, the safest of positions. Additionally, this positioning of theslide makes it impossible for the firearm to be discharged as it is theforward motion of the slide in normal operation which chambersammunition into the breech of the weapon, followed by the firing pinstriking the round when the trigger is actuated, and discharging abullet from the barrel. Therefore, the present invention makes use ofredundant mechanisms that ensure a firearm cannot be accidentallydischarged while in storage or during transport.

[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention, referenceshould be made to the drawings and the description in which there areillustrated and described preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention to providea device which serves to lock the trigger of a handgun, or other similarfirearm, so that it cannot be moved and thereby risk activating thefiring mechanism.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide such atrigger lock which, when in the locked position on the handgun, alsoserves to hold the slide of the handgun in a rearward position so thatthe chamber and any magazine receiving bore is open, allowing insertionand removal of magazines with the lock on.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to hold the slide ofthe handgun in a rearward position which allows a magazine to be removedor installed into the firearm while the locking mechanism is in place.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide such atrigger lock that will hold the slide of the handgun in a rearwardposition which ensures that it cannot move forward to chamber a round ofammunition into the firing chamber and release the firing pin to strikea round and fire the bullet from the handgun.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a triggerlock which can be quickly removed by an authorized user so that thehandgun is readily available.

[0016] In addition to the above objects, various other objects of thisinvention will be apparent from a careful reading of this specificationincluding the detailed description contained herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0017]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the present inventionillustrating the manner in which it engages the trigger guard and barrelof a typical handgun when installed to prevent the unintended firing ofthe weapon. Portions of the trigger guard and trigger of the handgunwhich are covered by the invention are shown in broken lines.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention and atypical handgun as shown in FIG. 1 and detailing the manner in which theinvention is installed on the firearm. A portion of a left verticalplate of the invention is cut away to reveal interior details of theinvention.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention illustratingthe orientation of its major components.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the present invention as shownin FIG. 3.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of the present invention asshown in FIG. 3.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a bottom elevation view of the present invention asshown in FIG. 3.

[0023]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the locking cylinder component ofthe present invention illustrating the orientation of its majorcomponents.

[0024]FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the locking cylinder componentof the present invention as shown in FIG. 7.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the locking cylinder componentof the present invention as shown in FIG. 7.

[0026]FIG. 10 is a top view of the locking cylinder component of thepresent invention as shown in FIG. 7.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a perspective cross sectional view of the presentinvention, cut along line 11-11 shown in FIG. 5, and shows the positionof the locking cylinder when the invention is in the locked position.

[0028]FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 11 except showingthe orientation of the locking cylinder while it is being rotated tounlock it.

[0029]FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 11 except showingthe orientation of the locking cylinder when fully unlocked and justprior to its removal from the body of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIGS. 1and 2, the firearm disabling device 10 is primarily made up of threecomponents. The first of these is the trigger lock body 38 portion ofthe present invention which is used to lock and disable the trigger 20of a handgun 12 or other similar firearm. The trigger lock body 38 (mostclearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3) is made up of two verticallyoriented and parallel plates, the left vertical plate 40 and the rightvertical plate 41, which are connected at their lowest points by meansof the body floor 46 to form a U-shaped boundary that is open at its topand rear sides. This configuration creates an upwardly open body cavity48 between the left and right vertical plates, 40 and 41, whichcorresponds in its inside dimension to the outside dimension of thetrigger guard 22 of a typical handgun 12. While preferably vertical andparallel, the plates 40, 41 can function to enclose the trigger guard 22and trigger 20 so long as they extend at least partially vertically.

[0031] Additionally, the upper and rear surfaces (in relation to theorientation of the handgun) of each of the parallel left and rightvertical plates 40 and 41 are formed in a manner so that the triggerlock body 38 fits tightly against the handgun body 30 and handle 18 whenin place to lock the trigger 20. This shaping of the trigger lock body38 ensures that the present invention will not move in relation to thetrigger guard 22 when installed and locked on a handgun 12, which inturn prevents any accidental contact with the trigger 20, thus, avoidingany accidental discharging of the weapon. On handguns having differentsizes and configurations, the contours of the upper surfaces of thevertical plates 40, 41 are appropriately modified.

[0032] The locking function of the present invention is provided by alocking cylinder 24 that, when installed on a handgun 12, is insertedthrough an opening fabricated to provide a locating fixture for thelocking cylinder 24. Preferably, the opening 12 is in the form of asubstantially circular lock cylinder hole 62 located towards the frontcenter surface of the left vertical plate 40. The locking cylinder 24could be any form of hole or other opening and does not require acylindrical contour. During the installation process of the invention toa handgun 12, once the locking cylinder 24 passes through the leftvertical plate 40, it passes between the inner front surface of thetrigger guard 22 and the trigger 20 itself and then preferably entersthe additional locking pin carrier on the inside of the cap 44 locatedin the right vertical plate 41.

[0033] The lock cylinder hole 62 in the right vertical plate 41 differsfrom the one in the left vertical plate 40 in that it is closed off bythe locking pin carrier and the protruding cylinder cap 44 that extendoutwardly from the outside surface of the right vertical plate 41. Theprimary purposes of the cap 44 is to provide a point of attachment for alocking pin 58 which works with the locking cylinder 24 to provide thelocking function of the present invention (which will be discussed infurther detail below) and to close off the interior mechanics of thelocking cylinder 24 to keep it free from collecting harmful debris orbeing thwarted by an unauthorized user.

[0034] The locking cylinder 24 (FIGS. 7-10) component of the presentinvention includes a stationary outer lock cylinder 32 and arotationally movable inner lock cylinder 34 that controls the lockingfunction of the locking cylinder 24 and that can be manipulated by theinsertion of a key 36 (FIG. 11) in its exposed outer surface. Therotation of the inner lock cylinder 34 locks and unlocks the lockingcylinder 24 within the lock cylinder holes 62 in the left and rightvertical plates 40, 41, which serves to lock and unlock the presentinvention to the trigger guard 22 of a handgun 12. Further details ofthe locking cylinder 24 are described below.

[0035] The second component of the present invention is the slideretainer 28 (the configuration of which is best illustrated in FIGS. 2,3, 5 and 6), which operates to hold the slide 14 of the handgun 12 in arearward position when the present invention is in place over thetrigger guard 22. The slide retainer 28 is essentially a forwardextending portion of the body floor 46 and front wall 50, which is madeup of primarily the retainer extension 52 and the slide stop 64. Theretainer extension 52 is the portion of the slide retainer 28 whichpreferably runs substantially parallel to the lower surface of thehandgun barrel 16 and the lower frame of the weapon directly beneath thebarrel 16, and extends forward to the point that is necessary to holdthe handgun slide 14, while the present invention is in place on ahandgun 12. The slide stop 64 extends up from the distal tip of theextension 52. Thus, the retainer extension 52 serves to hold the slidestop 64 in a reward position so that the chamber of the handgun 12 isopen, which allows the magazine to be installed and removed while thepresent invention is in place on the handgun 12.

[0036] From the most forward point of the retainer extension 52, theslide stop 64 diverges upward, preferably at a ninety degree angle, to apoint at which it can engage and securely hold the slide 14 of thehandgun 12. The mechanism by which the slide stop 64 remains adjacent toand holds the slide 14 in its retracted position is accomplished by theuse of the barrel hole 42 or other frame receiving opening, which ispreferably a circular hole in the face of the slide stop 64 that isslipped over the handgun's barrel 16 during the installation process ofthe present invention to a typical handgun 12. The barrel hole 42preferably completely surrounds the barrel 42 but could function ifmerely being a barrel abutting portion which surrounds part of thebarrel 16, and preferably a majority of the barrel 16.

[0037] Therefore, the installation of the invention by passing thelocking cylinder 24 through the trigger lock body 38 and the inside ofthe trigger guard 22, also serves to hold the slide 14 in a rewardposition.

[0038] The trigger lock body 38 and slide retainer 28 are preferablyformed rigidly together as a single unitary mass by casting, welding,bonding or permanently fastening the body 38 and retainer 28 together.Hence, a first distance between the slide stop of the slide retainer andthe body 38 or other handgun attachment region is fixed. A seconddistance between the formed tip of the slide 14 (when retracted) and aportion of the handgun 12 to which the body 38 attaches can match thisfirst distance so that the slide is prevented from advancing.

[0039] The third component of the present invention is the lockingcylinder 24, the construction of which is further illustrated in FIGS.7, 8, 9, and 10. As previously stated, the locking cylinder 24 is madeup primarily of the outer and inner lock cylinders, 32 and 34. The outerlock cylinder 32 also has in its substantially cylindrical outer surfaceat least one positioning flat 54 (and preferably two) which correspondsin shape to a similar hole positioning flat 56 located in the lockcylinder opening 62 on the left and right vertical plates, 40 and 41.The purpose of the cylinder positioning flat 54 is to locate the lockingcylinder 24 within the lock cylinder opening 62 in the position that isnecessary for the locking cylinder 24 to properly function to lock andunlock the present invention to the trigger guard 22 of a handgun 12.The cylinder positioning flat 54 also serves to hold the outer lockcylinder 32 in a stationary position relative to the trigger lock body38 and the inner lock cylinder 34. This ensures that the rotation of akey 36 within the key slot 26, which operates the inner lock cylinder34, will not affect the position of the outer lock cylinder 32 inrelation to the trigger lock body 38.

[0040] Additionally, the inner lock cylinder 34 extends further back, inrelation to the locking cylinder 24 itself, beyond the most rearward endof the outer lock cylinder 32. This portion of the inner lock cylinder34 is the component of the present invention which extends into thelocking pin carrier inside of the cylinder cap 44 located on the rightvertical plate 41. The rear portion of the inner lock cylinder 34 isalso the component of the present invention which supports the lockingpin slot 60, which serves to engage the locking pin 58 (the locationwithin the cylinder cap 44 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 13).

[0041] The diagonal locking pin slot 60 is a slot helically cut into thesurface of the inner lock cylinder 34 whose ending point is forward, inrelation to the locking cylinder 24, and offset in a counter clockwisemanner from its starting point on the most rearward portion of the innerlock cylinder 34. Preferably, two opposing slots 60 extend as a doublehelix along the surface of the inner lock cylinder 34. The locking pin58 and the diagonal locking pin slot 60 are the components of theinvention which control the location of the inner locking cylinder 34,and therefore the entirety of the locking cylinder 24, through therotation of the inner lock cylinder 34, by the use of a key 36 withinthe trigger lock body 38 of the present invention. When two opposingslots 60 are provided, the locking pin extends across the recess in thecap 44, making the cap 44 more secure.

[0042] The manner in which the locking cylinder 24 serves to lock andunlock the present invention is further illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, and13. FIG. 11 illustrates the position of the locking cylinder 24 with thetrigger lock body 38 of the present invention when the inner lockcylinder 34 is fully rotated to the locked position by the use of thekey 36 (at this point it is important to note that for illustrativepurposes the invention is depicted as being used with a Tubular Ace typekey system, but will work equally as well with any of the otheravailable styles of keyed locking mechanisms). When the key 36 and theinner lock cylinder 34 are rotated fully in the counter clockwisemanner, the locking pin 58 is positioned at the most forward point ofthe diagonal locking pin slot 60 which serves to pull the lock cylinderfully within the trigger lock body 38. This is the fully locked positionof the present invention. Preferably, the key 36 is captured within thelocking cylinder 24 at all times, except when the key 36 rotates withinthe cylinder 24 to the fully locked position. In this way, the user isprecluded from accidentally only partially locking the cylinder 24 inplace.

[0043] In this position, it is impossible to remove the locking cylinder24 from the invention without the use of a key 36, which provides amethod of attachment for the present invention to the trigger guard of ahandgun 12, in a manner that prevents unintended or unwanted removal ofthe device 10. Also, in this position the locking cylinder 24, alongwith the vertical plates 40, 41 secured thereto, completely surround thetrigger 20, preventing it from being moved.

[0044] As a clockwise rotational force is applied to the inner lockcylinder 34 through the key 36, which is illustrated in FIG. 12, theposition of the locking pin 58 relative to the length of the diagonallocking pin slot 60 is moved rearward, which in turn forces the lockingcylinder 24 outward in relation to the trigger lock body 38. Thisclockwise rotation serves to expose the outward end of the lockingcylinder 24 beyond the outer surface of the trigger lock body 38 and isthe initial step in the removal of the locking cylinder 24 andtherefore, the entirety of the present invention from the handgun 12.

[0045] Finally, the completion of the clockwise rotation of the innerlock cylinder 34 through the key 36 is illustrated in FIG. 13. In theposition in which the inner lock cylinder 34 has been fully rotated in aclockwise manner, the locking pin 58 has fully cleared the diagonallocking pin slot 60 and the locking cylinder 24 has been forced furtherout in relation to the trigger lock body 38. At this point, the lockingcylinder 24 can be freely pulled from the lock cylinder holes 62 of thetrigger lock body 38 and the present invention can be removed from thetrigger guard 22 of the handgun 12. The installation process of theinvention to the handgun 12 is simply the reverse of the above processin which counter clockwise rotational force applied to the inner lockcylinder 34 through the key 36 serves to pull the locking cylinder 24into the trigger lock body 38 as the locking pin 58 moves forward withinthe diagonal locking pin slot 60 in relation to the body of the lockingcylinder 24.

[0046] This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thusdescribed the invention in this way, it should be apparent that variousdifferent modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structuresare identified as a means to perform a function, the identification isintended to include all structures which can perform the functionspecified.

What is claimed is:
 1. A firearm trigger disabling device for use on ahandgun having a trigger, a barrel and a slide that moves along thebarrel during the operation of the handgun, said trigger disablingdevice comprising: a trigger lock body having a left and a right atleast partially vertically extending plate for covering the respectivesides of said trigger, at least one of said left and right plates havinga lock hole passing therethrough; a slide retainer extending from saidtrigger lock body, said slide retainer having an at least partiallyvertically extending slide stop portion; said slide stop including abarrel abutting portion therein, said barrel abutting portion at leastpartially surrounding the barrel; said slide stop extending from saidbarrel abutting portion sufficiently to hold the slide of the handgun ina rearward position while allowing the handgun barrel to pass adjacentsaid barrel abutting portion in said slide stop; and a removable lockportion sized to pass through said lock hole.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein both said left plate and said right plate have a lock holepassing therethrough, one of said plates having a cap section coveringsaid lock hole therein.
 3. The device of claim 2 further comprising alocking pin mounted within said cap section of one of said plates, saidpin positioned at least partially within said cap section.
 4. The deviceof claim 3 further comprising an inner lock cylinder within saidremovable lock portion for selectively locking or releasing from saidlocking pin.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one lockhole includes a radially non-symmetrical contour, said removable lockportion having a matching contour so as to prevent said removable lockportion from rotating when positioned within said at least one lockhole.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said left and right at leastpartially vertically extending plates are joined together by a floorhaving a width at least as wide as the trigger and a trigger guard infront of the trigger.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said slideretainer barrel abutting portion surrounds a majority of the barrel ofthe handgun when said barrel abutting portion is adjacent said barrel.8. The device of claim 7 wherein said barrel abutting portion is in theform of a barrel hole completely surrounding said barrel when saidbarrel abutting portion is adjacent the barrel.
 9. A trigger and slidelock for a handgun having a trigger covered by a trigger guard, a barreland a slide that moves along the barrel during the operation of thehandgun, said trigger disabling device comprising in combination: aslide retainer having a slide stop and a removable handgun attachmentregion; and said slide stop abutting the slide when the slide isretracted and said removable handgun attachment region is attached to aportion of the handgun, such that advancement of the slide of thehandgun is prevented by said slide stop.
 10. The lock of claim 9 whereinsaid removable handgun attachment region is configured to attach to thehandgun between the trigger guard and the trigger of the handgun. 11.The lock of claim 9 wherein said slide stop includes a barrel abuttingportion, said barrel abutting portion at least partially surrounding thebarrel.
 12. The lock of claim 11 wherein said barrel abutting portionsurrounds a majority of the barrel when said barrel abutting portion islocated adjacent the barrel.
 13. The lock of claim 12 wherein saidbarrel abutting portion is configured as a barrel hole completelysurrounding the barrel when said barrel abutting portion is locatedadjacent the barrel.
 14. The lock of claim 9 wherein said removablehandgun attachment region includes a lock hole adjacent a space betweenthe trigger guard and the trigger of the handgun, said removable handgunattachment region including a removable lock portion configured to passinto said lock hole when said removable handgun attachment region islocated with said lock hole adjacent the space between the trigger guardand the trigger so that said removable lock portion passes between thetrigger guard and the trigger.
 15. The lock of claim 14 wherein saidremovable handgun attachment region completely surrounds a space betweenthe trigger guard and the trigger such that said removable handgunattachment region blocks access to the trigger of the handgun.
 16. Thelock of claim 15 wherein said removable handgun attachment regionincludes a trigger lock body having a left and a right at leastpartially vertically extending plate spaced apart by a floor with adistance between said left and right at least partially verticallyextending plates greater than a width of the trigger guard and triggerof the handgun.
 17. A firearm trigger disabling device for use on ahandgun having a trigger covered by a trigger guard, a barrel and aslide that moves along the barrel during the operation of the handgun,said trigger disabling device comprising in combination: a unitary rigidmass including a slide stop and a removable handgun attachment region;and said slide stop spaced from said handgun attachment region by afirst distance similar to second distance between a forward tip of thehandgun slide and the portion of the handgun to which the removablehandgun attachment region attaches when the slide of the handgun isretracted, such that said slide stop keeps the slide from advancing whensaid removable handgun attachment region is attached to the portion ofthe handgun to which said removable handgun attachment region attaches.18. The lock of claim 17 wherein said slide stop includes a barrel holesurrounding a majority of the barrel of the handgun when said slide stopis adjacent the forward tip of the handgun slide.
 19. The lock of claim18 wherein said removable handgun attachment region substantiallyencloses the trigger guard, the trigger and a space between the triggerguard and the trigger.
 20. The lock of claim 18 wherein said removablehandgun attachment region includes a hole passing therethrough adjacenta space between the trigger guard and the trigger, said removablehandgun attachment region including a removable lock portion removablyattachable to the removable handgun attachment region, said removablelock portion sized to pass into and out of said lock hole and saidremovable handgun attachment region with said removable lock portionpassing into and out of the space between the trigger guard and thetrigger of the handgun, said removable lock portion selectively securelyattaching said removable handgun attachment region to said handgun.